Matsuzaka shut down with another injury

By

Peter Abraham

May 20, 2012

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

PHILADELPHIA — Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon.

The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end on Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka received an injection in the area.

“That’s been nagging him for quite a while and we’ve got to make sure that that’s 100 percent before he’s going out there again,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “I talked to him [Saturday] about it being sore. He said he would maybe pitch through it. They examined him and didn’t think it was wise.”

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Matsuzaka has pitched in five minor league games with mixed results, giving up 13 earned runs on 25 hits over 25 1/3 innings. He had walked six and struck out 22.

Matsuzaka had Tommy John elbow surgery last June and appeared to be progressing well before his latest setback. He will remain with the team to receive treatment and it is unclear when he will start pitching again.

The development, coincidentally or not, saves the Red Sox from having to find a spot for Matsuzaka in their rotation.

Matsuzaka started 61 games in the first two seasons of his contract with the Red Sox and was one of the better starters in the American League. But he has appeared in only 45 games over the four seasons since and has a 5.03 ERA

In other injury news:

• The Red Sox did not have outfielders Cody Ross or Ryan Sweeney available in Sunday’s 5-1 victory against the Phillies.

Ross is out with a sore left foot, the result of a foul ball that struck him on Friday night. Sweeney wrenched his neck and suffered a mild concussion when he made a spectacular diving catch in the seventh inning on Saturday night.

Ross was walking normally on Sunday and is hopeful of playing against the Orioles on Monday. “Oh yeah, absolutely. My main goal is to be in there tomorrow,” he said.

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Sweeney tested positive for concussion symptoms on Saturday but was close to normal on Sunday.

“I’ll be all right,” he said. “It’s getting better and I want to play tomorrow. I should be able to.”

• The Red Sox are being cautious with Kevin Youkilis on his minor league rehabilitation assignment. He had a day off on Sunday after playing seven innings on Saturday. Youkilis has been with the PawSox for four games and played in two of them.

He is scheduled to play for Pawtucket on Monday at Norfolk, Va., and could join the Red Sox as soon as Tuesday.

“If he feels good after the game, I don’t see any reason why not,” Valentine said. “It’s on him. If he wants another couple of at-bats, or needs anything.”